Chicago-based painter Jim Lutes is often considered heir to the Imagist tradition. This, however, is only part of the story. Having come to artistic maturity in the late 1970s, Lutes exemplifies a larger and more complex art historical narrative that entails the emergence of figuration and regionalism under the declining influence of abstract expressionism. This is born out over several bodies of work in which Lutes has vacillated between a populist mode of figuration and a painterly abstraction, the combination of which produced a style along the lines of Picasso in the 1930s or Guston in the 1970s. This mid-career retrospective will survey Lutes’ career from his gritty Chicago cityscapes and narratives of disillusionment of the 1980s, to his synthesis of figuration and a lyrical process-based abstraction.

Lutes’ work has been exhibited internationally, including Documenta IX. His work is held in the collections of The Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago, and Museum van Hedendaagse Kunst, Ghent, Belgium.

Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho is one of the world’s leading composers, having received numerous commissions and awards from around the world. Marked by a spectral sensibility and a palette that extends towards the fringes of musical sound, her work is noted for its transitions from dark to light, rough to smooth, noise to sound and from nebulous to dense textures.

ROUNDTABLE
Sunday, January 11, 2:00 pmChicago Artist? Is there such a thing anymore?
As this question warrants, this roundtable will feature an all-star cast including Elizabeth Chodos, Director of Three Walls; Paul Klein, critic; Chuck Thurow, Director of The Hyde Park Art Center; Philip von Zweck, artist, and others.

About The Renaissance Society
The Renaissance Society has earned its reputation as one of the premier cultural institutions for leading-edge contemporary art in the United States through its longstanding commitment to presenting work by the most challenging and compelling artists of the day. Many of these exhibitions represent the artists’ national or Midwestern premieres, and many have included newly commissioned work. The museum offers educational programs that supplement the exhibition schedule, including concerts, lectures and readings.

The Renaissance Society is located on the campus of the University of Chicago, in Cobb Hall, on the fourth floor. It is open Tuesday to Friday 10 am to 5 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 pm. Admission is free. Visit www.renaissancesociety.org to learn more about the exhibitions and events.

Exhibitions, symposia and teaching positions at art schools world wide

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